Night of power

IN THIS night (27th of Ramadan), the Holy Quran was sent down from Loh-e-Mehfooz (the Preserved Tablet) to the earth. The Messenger of Allah Holy Prophet Muhammad (Blessings of Allah and peace be upon him) told us to search for Shab-e-Qadr in the odd numbered nights, in the last 10 days of Ramadan. So, the 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th or 29th night of Ramadan could be Shab-e-Qadr.

We should take advantage of this night, from sunset till sunrise. Offer Nawafil (prayers), recite the Holy Quran, do repent (Istaghfar), and pray for pardon, recite many many Salawat (Darood Sharif & Salaam) and make benediction .

In the words of the Holy Quran: (this Night) “We have indeed revealed this (message) in the Night of Power: And what will explain to you what the Night of Power is? The Night of Power is better than a thousand months. Therein come down the Angels and the Spirit (Jibraeel) by Allah’s permission, on every errand: Peace! This until the rise of Morning!” (Surah 97)

The Night of Power is the night of spiritual bliss. The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is reported to have said concerning Ramadan: “Verily this month has come to you; and therein is a night which is better than a thousand months. Whosoever is deprived of it, is deprived of all good; and none is deprived of its good except a totally unfortunate person”. (Ibn Majah).“Whosoever stands up (in prayer) at the Night of Power out of faith and hopeful of reward, all his past sins will be forgiven.”(Targhib)

A thousand months are equivalent to 83 years and 4 months. Fortunate is the person who spends this night in prayer. The man or woman, who prays for the whole night during this Night, will deserve blessings and reward for the period as if he or she had been praying for eighty three years and four months consecutively Since the Night of Power is better than one thousand months no one can actually measure the extent as to how much better it is.

The Holy Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said: “Laylatul Qadr has been bestowed by Allah to my Ummah (People). It was not given to any people before this.” (Dur-Mansoor).

How manifest and replete the special bounties and mercies of Allah are upon this Ummat is quite really beyond imagination. It will, therefore, be extremely foolish to allow ourselves to be deprived of these great blessings at the expense of sheer laziness and a few hours of extra sleep.

Although there are different reports in different traditions regarding the exact night, it is almost unanimous that the blessed night occurs in one of the last ten nights of Ramadan and more probably in one of the last ten odd nights i.e. 2lst, 23rd, 25th 27th or 29th night.

The popular opinion is, however, in favour of the 27th Night of Ramadan but that is not absolutely certain. The traditions indicate that it is to be sought in one of the last 10 nights and preferably in the last three odd nights. It was, therefore, the practice of the Holy Prophet (peace be upon him) and his companions to make I’tikaaf in the Masjid for the whole time offering Divine service during the last ten days of Ramadan.

Syeda Aisha reported that the Apostle of Allah said: “Search for the Blessed Night in the odd (nights) from the last ten (nights) of Ramadan”(Bukhari).

Special attention should be given to the excessive recitation of the Holy Quran on the blessed night. Furthermore one may engage in lengthy Rakaats of Tahajjud Salaat, Zikr, etc.

The worship and the vigil of the Night of Power are a treat to the soul. The heart tends to melt into tears of heartfelt gratitude. The body is in a state of angelic ecstasy. The soul strives to reach nearer to Almighty Allah. In this holy month of Ramadan let us strive to seek the Night of Power and its bliss.

The Night of Power in His infinite wisdom is encouraged to be searched during the odd nights of the last 10 days of Ramadan. Since over fourteen centuries Muslims are striving diligently to benefit greatly from it. Interestingly we have embraced the night for its mathematical magic but seemingly misplaced the very essence of the night. In fact, it was just another dark night. But it became the Night of Power because of what was revealed in the darkness. It is now known to us, a night better than a thousand months. The dark night is illuminating the world and the Holy Quran is guiding the humanity ever since.

The Night of Power is celebrated powerfully. Masajid and communities celebrate the night by staying up all night, listening to lectures, reading the Holy Quran, etc. What seems to be missing though is to reflect on the Divine Words and to act upon it. Unless that is done, the real power will not be received from the Night of Power.— Special to Khaleej Times